Local perceptions of rangeland degradation and climate change in the pastoral society of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Rangelands provide several valuable ecological services and provide for the livelihoods of local herders on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). However, rangelands are being degraded due to overgrazing, policy changes and climate change. In this context, a survey was conducted in Zhuaxixiulong township of Gansu Province, China to examine the rangeland management systems and identify problems herders are facing in terms of livestock production and livelihoods using a Participatory Rural Appraisal approach. The results indicated that local herders perceived recent trends in rangeland degradation, climatic change, and political changes, and had developed management practices to adapt to these changes, such as adjusting transhumance patterns, cooperating with local institutions and adopting more collective actions in production practices. This study suggests that, to promote a sustainable rangeland management system in the QTP, policy-makers should recognise indigenous knowledge systems of grazing practices and rangeland management, as well as the need for more advanced technical methods. More attention should be paid to recent changes in climate, social transformations and economic changes to enhance the viability of such a pastoral society. To ensure the sustainability of the social–ecological system, there is a need to strengthen public participation and cooperation with all types of institutions to formulate appropriate policies and improve public services.

Physiological analysis of the effect of altitudinal gradients on Leymus secalinus on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

“…However, the grassland ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau has become increasingly degraded during recent years with the increase in human activity, overgrazing and climate change [7]. The environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is adverse for plant growth.…”

Enhancing the resilience of coupled human and natural systems of alpine rangelands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

“…We addressed the following questions: (1) what are the environmental and socio-economic drivers of rangeland degradation Wang et al 2015a;Wu et al 2015a); (2) how do social and natural pastoral systems respond to environmental changes Zhao et al 2015;Liu et al 2015;Wu et al 2015b); (3) what adaptive strategies are being used by local people to cope with global changes Wu et al 2015b); (4) how can scientific knowledge be translated into practical applications of sustainable rangeland management (Wang et al 2015b;Tang et al 2015;Li et al 2015); and (5) how can effective government policies of rangeland management be formulated within a framework of coupled social and natural systems Wu et al 2015b;Su et al 2015)? The papers presented in this special edition address these questions by examining diverse topics about alpine rangelands of the QTP across multiple spatial scales (site, watershed and region) and multiple disciplines (social, ecological, economic, cultural and political) within the context of coupled human-natural systems (Fig.…”

Does Fallowing Cultivated Land Threaten Food Security? Empirical Evidence from Chinese Pilot Provinces

“…Gansu (32°11′-42°57′ N, 92°13′-108°46′ E) is a province located in northwest part of China. It is one of most typical arid and semi-arid regions without too much water in China, and has been subject to severe ecological degradation, such as soil desertification, calling for a decrease in cultivated land use intensity [44]. Hunan (24°38′-30°8′ N, 108° 47′-114°15′ E) is situated in central China.…”